There were two things in this life that Kelera knew for sure. First, she was never under any circumstances allowed to touch the blackthorn trees, and second, she needed to do everything within her power to fit in with the mortals.

Heir of Shadows and Ice (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)

Thank you, J.M. Wallace, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The world will succumb to frost and be reborn in fire. That is what the Fae witch promised…

Since then, Kelera has spent her life denying the Fae blood that runs in her veins, shutting away the magic that calls to her.

But when trouble strikes the heart of the kingdom, she finds she must do whatever it takes to help. For the chance to save herself, her people, and to prove her loyalty to the mortal realm, Kelera must venture into the heart of Elfhame and navigate her way through the malevolent Unseelie Court at the risk of her own life.

When she is captured by the most malicious of the Unseelie Princes, Kelera’s only choice is to do what she must to survive. Even if it means embracing the magic she has been holding at bay.

Immersed in the dangers of Elfhame and faced with the brothers who each vie for the Unseelie crown, Kelera must navigate not only the treacherous court, but also the traitorous feelings blooming in her heart, and decide if taking back her power is worth the risk.

Heir of Shadows and Ice is the first book in the thrilling fantasy series, Claiming Elfhame. Step into a world of danger, intrigue, magic, and mayhem as Kelera journeys to save those she holds most dear.

This is my first book from this author, but when I saw fae and royalty I knew I had to read it.

Kelera is a halfling fae determined to fit in in the mortal world. But the royal court hates her because of her fae ancestry, something that isn’t helped due to the series of kidnappings suspected to be carried out by the fae in Elfhame.

But when her best friend is added to the list of kidnapped women, Kelera does the only thing she can think of—go to the heart of the dangerous Unseelie court to get her back.

Heir of Shadows and Ice is definitely a slow-paced book. It took a while for the plot to really grab me, and I wasn’t truly invested until about the 70% mark. However, the world-building kept me reading. I loved the elements of traditional Scottish folklore weaved throughout, and Wallace paints a beautifully rich world between the mortal realm and Elfhame without getting into info-dumping territory.

I also enjoyed the character development and relationships throughout. Kelera is strong and determined, but also kind and generous, which makes it easy to like her. I loved the tender relationship with her father and the friendship that she strikes up with Gadreel, who ended up being one of my favorite characters. Adrastus ended up winning me over as well, especially once we got past his gruff exterior.

Despite Heir of Shadows and Ice getting off to a slow start, the later interactions between Kelera and Adrastus totally make this worth the read. I’m looking forward to seeing how the story plays out in the next book.